8 Holiday Drinks to Enjoy if You’re Vegan

It’s the holiday season, and festive holiday drinks can be found around every corner. Unfortunately, many of these popular drinks contain dairy and eggs, both products that are not suitable for vegan diets. As of September 2020, Ireland was among the top ten countries in the world for veganism. A few Irish cities, including Dublin, were named as the best cities to visit for a wide selection of vegan food and restaurants.

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With so many people interested in adopting a vegan or plant-based diet, it’s important to introduce vegan alternatives to popular food and drink items. Below I have compiled a list of vegan holiday drinks to enjoy this season, perfect for vegans or people who are interested in a vegan diet.

1. Eggnog

As you can tell by the name, this delicious holiday drink is not traditionally vegan. Eggnog is usually made with eggs, cream, spices, and sugar. This drink can be made vegan by simply substituting the cream with non-dairy milks and adding a few items to give it the thick, creamy consistency that makes it so appealing.

2. Gingerbread Hot Cocoa

Gingerbread and hot cocoa – two Christmas staples. What could go wrong when combining them? Hot cocoa is perfect for chilly winter weather, and the addition of a gingerbread flavour makes this drink all the more festive. Not only is this recipe dairy-free, it is refined sugar-free as well.

3. Holiday Irish Coffee

Being vegan should not stop you from enjoying this classic drink. There are many different Irish coffee recipes, and this one hits the nail on the head by making it vegan and festive for the holidays! All you have to do is find a dairy-free whipped cream (coconut whipped cream, as this recipe recommends) and add crushed candy canes for that holiday flavour.

4. Mulled Apple Cider

Apple cider is a cold weather favourite. It’s perfect for warming you up on a chilly day and doesn’t leave you feeling heavy afterwards. This mulled cider recipe contains fun fruits and spices that will literally spice up any normal apple cider recipes. There are quite a few ingredients that go into this drink, but the process of making it is quite simple and it ends up tasting delicious.

5. Pumpkin Spice Latte

This seasonal Starbucks drink is so popular; many of us find ourselves wishing that it is available year round. Unfortunately, a vegan option of the Starbucks drink is only available in Europe and the United Kingdom, and here in the United States I’ve had to make do with preparing my own at home. While it’s more work, this drink is a delicious dairy-free alternative and a holiday favourite.

6. Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Peppermint hot chocolate is another holiday favourite that can easily be made vegan. Hot chocolate is the perfect drink to enjoy on a snowy day, and the addition of the peppermint flavour is sweet and adds a bit of a kick to the drink. What makes this recipe so good is the addition of cashews, which make it extra rich and creamy.

7. Matcha White Hot Chocolate

Who knew that matcha could be used in a holiday recipe? Matcha green tea is a thick and delicious drink that is known to have numerous health benefits. The green tea flavour pairs well with dairy-free white chocolate and makes for a great, new twist on traditional hot chocolate recipes.

8. Cranberry Orange Yule Mule

This recipe combines the fun yuletide flavours of cranberry and orange with vodka and ginger beer, making a fruity and festive holiday version of a Moscow Mule cocktail. It is easy to prepare, and it only takes about 20 minutes to make in total.

Now that you’ve got some fun vegan holiday drink options, share your favourite below! Stay safe and healthy this winter.